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The horrors that thousands of lesbian and gay couples face are detailed in this moving political and personal story of immigration and love. As Judy and Karin’s legal battles reveal, when only one half of a gay couple is an American citizen, immigration struggles are confounded by the fact that the partners cannot legally marry in most parts of the United States. With resources that outline which organizations can help and what the challenges and the realities of this situation are, this reference reaches out to couples, their friends and family, and anyone interested in assisting by offering advice and camaraderie on this subset of the gay marriage issue. Royalties from the book, which is published in association with Immigration Equality and Out4Immigration, go to groups working to overcome immigration denial for gay couples.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Amos Lassen...Rickard tells us about her battle as well as what others deal with......Rickard is definitely qualified to have written this book. --amoslassen.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/torn-apart-united-by-love-divided-by-law-legislating-love/

From the Inside Flap

"These laws force gay and lesbian families to do nothing but fight for their lives, rather than putting their shoulder to the wheel and working for the betterment of the society. And they are in a fight for their lives."Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage and Eat, Pray, Love

"Torn Apart is a poignant reminder that our country must change our immigration policies to keep families together, not split them apart...[This book] should instill in all of us a sense of urgency to right this wrong."Mike Honda, congressman, California (D-15)

Top customer reviews

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This book tells the stories of many couples. One half of the couple is an American Citizen the other half is not. Normally, this would not be an immigration problem except for one thing: These couples are of the same sex and therefore, the United States Federal government will not recognize their relationships. How heartbreaking to read story after story of couples living in exile or separated from their loved ones. Judy Rickard writes from the heart. It is well worth the purchase.

I bought it one weeke ago , and so far Im loving it! Im in a binational relationship, and this book is helping me to deal with my own fears and fight for my rights. Thanks Judy for sharing your story .

Thousands of same-sex binational couples are kept apart by U.S. immigration policies that don't just fail to recognize that two people of the same gender can have a positive, fulfilling and committed relationship, but actually target the non-citizen half of such couples as a security risk. Despite the work of activist groups such as Immigration Equality, Love Exiles and Out4Immigration, and numerous attempts by understanding elected representatives to push through legislation to eliminate this unfair policy, many couples have left the US to live in other countries, or to live nomadic lives traveling to a variety of countries, in order to avoid being split up.

The book begins with a forward by Elizabeth Gilbert, celebrated author of "Eat, Pray, Love," who is happily married to a man from Brazil. She points out the hypocrisy that they never had a problem being together, since immigration law allows citizens to bring in their fiancés, citizens or not. The fact that same sex couples are denied similar treatment, simply because we don't have the option to marry under federal law, has made her an activist for a change in policy to eliminate this blatant discrimination, and inspired the author to tell her story.

Judy Rickard and her partner Karin, a British citizen, have endured long separations and taken trips simply to be together as much as possible. She also introduces us to over a dozen additional couples with similar (and worse) stories, with tales of their partner being dragged from their home in the middle of the night, of forced, immediate deportations, living in exile to avoid prosecution, having to pay thousands in legal fees while fighting life-threatening illnesses, The book covers idiosyncrasies in existing rules for "green cards", student and work visas, binational citizenships, and humanitarian visas that work against same-sex couples. And it discusses how such couples may choose to arrange "sham" marriages to opposite sex partners, just to get the opportunity to be in the same country together.

It's a powerful indictment of a legislative policy, formed in the name of homeland security that is running amuck and violating the basic rights of thousands of Americans. The book includes an extensive appendix of research sources, applicable legislative cites, proposed laws, and things you can do to help. All royalties from the book are being donated to lobbying groups involved in the effort. Not an easy read, but an important one. Five stars out of five.

This book tells the stories of binational couples and their struggles to succeed in their love relationships. It is very informative in the current laws and issues regarding LGBT and immigrate communities in the united states. Unlike other factional books, Torn Apart is compelling and it will open the eyes of many readers who are unaware of the issues of LGBT binational couples. I am a 23 year old gay, single immigrant and this book made me aware of yet another big issue that both my communities are fighting for.It is a smooth read and I guarantee you won't want to stop reading. Teachers, take this book to your classroom and spread the awareness because we need the change that this book is asking for.

How many people actually know the plight of same sex binational couples? There are thousands upon thousands of them, and Judy Rickard tells the stories of about 20 of them in her book. This book brought me to tears, I wonder why we persecute and break up couples whose only crime is that they love each other? Who, in this country, can be so very cruel? This is not just a book for the converted, I hope that many many people who have never known about this tragic situation will read this book and want to make a difference.